A RECORD-BREAKING away performance saw Furness beat Fylde B 25-7.

In the 26 years, no Furness team has won more than eight games on visiting soil in the Dennis Mowers-sponsored Federation of Crown Green Bowls.

But, remarkably, they lost only one of the 12 Division Five matches at Knott End Working Men's Club, Poulton-Le-Fylde – a fast, tricky green that suited the visiting bowlers.

Graham Rigg started off well at top man and led 12-8, before going 18-12 behind against a good home bowler. He battled back to lead the jack at 20-19 down and was lying game with two short woods on a fast mark, when his opponent changed his peg to take the game.

That was to be the hosts' only triumph.

After leading 19-9, Jeff Hinde had a comfortable 21-15 success, and Stuart Aspinall picked up the fast pace of the green and had an excellent 21-4 win.

Away team debutant Ryan Smith played well from 10-4 down, settling on a mark to emerge a 21-15 victor.

The middle order of Colin Knight, Kieran Clark and Ben Wright all recorded excellent wins of 21-6, 21-6 and 21-8 respectively.

Andy Rigg had to work hard for his success. He was 11-7 and 18-11 up, before eventually pulling through 21-19.

Steve Fullard had a comfortable 21-15 triumph after being 6-0 and 19-12 in front, and Mathew Ryder also won comfortably 21-13, putting him second in the divisional merit table.

Paul Clark bowled some excellent woods for a 21-12 victory, and Furness man-of-the-match Roger Barrow showed his class to bowl accurate, consistent woods and beat a very good opponent 21-11.

It was a different story for the home team at North Scale, where the honours were even in games won.

Furness began well, taking three of the opening four matches, with only David Jones losing by the narrowest of margins having led 11-1.

Mark Johnson raced into a 15-4 lead before winning 21-8, and similarly Darren Naylor led 15-5 before triumphing 21-9.

In a game lasting one-and-a-half hours, Adam Miller emerged a 21-15 victor; Sam Naylor lost 21-12, and John Reilly went down 21-13, both to quality opposition, before Neil Aspinall fought back from 15-9 behind to lead 18-17, when five singles gave his opponent the game.

Peter Harris trailed early in his game before winning 21-14, while Steven Waugh was in the game at the halfway stage only for his opponent to race away for a 21-15 score.

At 13-8, Chris Johnson seemed to have total command, but six ends later was 15-14 behind. He regained his composure, eventually finishing 21-17 to the good.

Paul Thompson made a bad start and was 11-4 adrift, but from 14-12 behind ran out a comfortable 21-14 victor.

Danny Rogers was 9-0 down against a wily opponent before getting the jack in his hand for the first time. He bowled himself back in the game at 17-16, when he bowled the jack off, a throw that possibly cost him the game as he only added a solitary point to his total.

Furness took the aggregate by 18 chalks for a 8-6 win, while the away team's 11-1 success in games was added to by a 105-chalk aggregate victory, giving a match score of 25-7.

The Furness team thanked North Scale Bowling Club for the use of their green, Gordon Walker and Les Johnson for their help on the day, and Anne Fearn for officiating.

The next Furness match is against Warrington on Sunday, July 22.

RESULTS

HOME LEG

Mark Johnson 21 Paul Dawson 8, Darren Naylor 21 Caroline Hall 9,David Jones 20 Jackie Mansen 21, Adam Miller 21 Mike Dewhurst 15, Sam Naylor 12 Jim Sealey 21, John Reilly 13 Jack Livsey 21, Neil Aspinall 18 Tommy Kitchen 21, Peter Harris 21 Andy Cummings 14, Steven Waugh 15 Dennis Foxton 21, Chris Johnson 21 Mel Clarkson 17, Paul Thompson 21 Bob Smith 14, Danny Rogers 17 Jim Kenny 21.

AWAY LEG

Graham Rigg 19 Stephen Dagger 21, Jeff Hinde 21 Jean Fletcher 15, Stuart Aspinall 21 Jaquline Bird 4, Ryan Smith 21 Gary Creer 15, Colin Knight 21 Derek Heys 6, Kieren Clark 21 Patricia Conche 6, Ben Wright 21 Paul Taylor 8, Andy Rigg 21 Carl Martin 19, Steve Fullard 21 Paul Dugmore 15, Matthew Ryder 21 Margaret Warburton 13, Paul Clark 21 Phil McVittie 12, Roger Barrow 21 Mike Kershaw 11.

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION FIVE STANDINGS

P

W

L

Pts

Furness

3

2

1

64

Warrington

2

1

1

39

South Lakes

2

2

0

36

Airedale B

2

1

1

28

Fylde B

3

0

3

25